Preparation of the dimethylphenyltelluronium and triphynltelluronium ions by direct phenylation with NaBPh4

New reactions are described for the formation of CTe bonds by the use of an organoborate. Accordingly, dimethyltellurium dichloride, Me2TeCl2, and diphenyltellurium dichloride, Ph2TeCl2, undergo direct and facile phenylation reactions with sodium tetraphenylborate at room temperature in methanol and water, respectively, to produce dimethylphenyltelluronium and triphenyltelluronium tetraphenylborate, respectively. Tellurium tetrachloride in benzene undergoes triarylation with excess NaBPh4 to yield Ph3Te+BPh4-.